Obituaries

Frederic Lawrence Sternburg,95, beloved husband of Dorothy (Berger) Sternburg died Saturday October 23, 2021.  Born in Boston on July 2, 1926, he was the devoted son of Alexander and Ida ( Paris) Sternburg. Fred was a proud graduate of Boston Latin and Georgetown University, where he played football.  He was a U.S. navy veteran serving during WWII after which he and Dorothy settled in Waltham and then Newton where they raised their 3 boys during their 68  year marriage. He was a Mason and a Shriner 32nd Degree.  When not watching one of his beloved Boston sports teams, Fred and Dorothy loved to travel the world.  Besides his wife Dorothy, he is survived by his three sons.  Scott Sternburg, Wendy Sternburg, Harold and Mary Sternburg and Paul and Lisa Sternburg.  Also, his 5 grandchildren Ali Sternburg and her fiance Jason Stern, Erika Sternburg, Jonathan Sternburg, Andrew Sternburg and Ilana Sternburg.  He was predeceased by his brother Burton Sternburg. A graveside service and memorial observance will be private . In lieu of flowers, donations in the memory of Frederic may be made to the Carrol Center for the Blind in Newton, or Marist Hill Nursing home in Waltham.

Honora Kaplan, 81, of Newton, a lawyer, local elected official, wife, mother and grandmother passed away at home on October 22, 2021.

Born and raised in Rochester, New York, Honora was an extraordinary student at Monroe High School, where she was Daughter of the Flag as the top-ranked female student. She graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Smith College in 1961 when she was just 20. That year, she married her high school sweetheart, Martin Kaplan, to whom she was married for more than twenty years.

Honora received a masters degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Public Administration at Harvard University in 1964, as one of its few women graduates at the time. She later received her JD cum laude from Boston College Law School while raising a family.

Honora had a successful and varied career. She worked as special assistant to the Massachusetts Commissioner of Mental Health and later practiced law in the private sector until her retirement in 2013.  Active in progressive political causes in Massachusetts her entire adult life, Honora was elected to the Newton School Committee in 1975. She was re-elected twice and served as chairperson, leading the city’s public schools (which all of her children attended).  In that role, she led the coalition advocating for expanding opportunities for students through a period of declining enrollment.

Honora married Dr. William (Bill) Terry in 1984, and together they shared the joys of travel, the birth of grandchildren, summers on Martha’s Vineyard as well as a deep love and respect for one another.  Honora’s family and friends will remember her brilliance, sense of humor, warmth, dedication to liberal causes, love of art, fierce loyalty, rich friendships, joy of reading, competitive Scrabble-playing, and the deepest love for her grandchildren.

Beloved wife of William Terry. Loving mother of Jonathan Kaplan (Jill Wilkins) of Bethesda, MD, Shira Kaplan (Eric Kahan) of Chappaqua, NY, and Benjamin Kaplan (Orietta Barletta) of Lexington, MA. Stepmother of Ellen, Mark, William Dan and Karen Terry. Dear sister of Mary Jane Tucker.  And doting grandmother to Harry, Max, Ruby, Emily, Giacomo, Francesca, Stella, Gus and Haley.

A funeral service for friends and family will be held at Burke & Blackington Funeral Home in West Newton on Tuesday, October 26 at 10:00am. A private burial will be held at Sharon Memorial Park in Sharon. A link to the livestream can be found here.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Honora’s name can be made to The Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Breast Cancer Research, 10 Brookline Place West, Floor 6, Brookline, MA 02445.

Dr. Michael S. Porder, a prominent New York City psychoanalyst, passed away after a long illness on October 15, 2021, at the age of 88. Mike was born in Boston, MA, and grew up in Brookline, MA.  In 1954, Mike graduated cum laude from Harvard University, and in 1958 from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Mike became interested in psychiatry because he thought it was the only field of medicine where a doctor really got to know their patients – a philosophy that guided both his professional and personal life. In 1964, Mike began his lifelong work with the New York Psychoanalytic Institute, where he discovered his passion for psychoanalysis. He opened his practice that year, and he continued to talk to patients until shortly before his death.

Mike was a widely recognized authority on psychoanalysis. His positions included Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1965-1990), Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine (1990-2000), and Lecturer in Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (1965-1990). He was a member of the Editorial Board of The Psychoanalytic Quarterly, and a Member of the Center for Advanced Psychoanalytic Studies since 1983. As a Training and Supervising Analyst at the New York Psychoanalytic Institute, he was a beloved colleague and a mentor to generations of psychoanalysts. With his colleagues Sander Abend and Martin Willick, Mike wrote a well-received treatise on psychological perspectives of treatments of borderline patients. His colleagues recognized his contribution to the field by selecting him twice to give the Institute’s prestigious Brill Lecture (1996 and 2019).

Notwithstanding his professional dedication and accomplishments, Mike considered his roles of husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather to be his most important. Mike leaves behind Dr. Peggy Porder, his wife of 53 years, his children Melissa Heckler (Dr. Frederick Shiels), Deborah Porder (Bruce Wiener), Dr. Joseph Porder (Dr. Kathleen Porder), Peter Lonergan (Cecilia Pinto de Moura), Jennifer Gurvits (Eugene Gurvits), Kenneth Lonergan (J. Smith-Cameron), and Dr. Stephen Porder (Dr. Bethany Gentilesco). He was preceded in death by his brother Lee Porder. Mike’s thirteen grandchildren were a source of constant joy to him, as was his enchanting great-granddaughter. His involvement in each of his children’s and grandchildren’s lives, and his support for their diverse careers were unwavering and unquestioning.

New York City was Mike’s home, but his spiritual home was a summer house on Spednic Lake in New Brunswick.  Every year, he looked forward to re-charging his batteries on the lakeshore, deep in a book, surrounded by the sound of gentle waves, rustling trees, and his family chatting, arguing, and laughing together. He got great pleasure from the loon-call recorded on the lake that became the family ringtone. Shortly before his death, when he was too weak to make the trip by boat, he mused, only half-kidding, that he would like to be lowered from a helicopter so he could be there one more time.

Mike reveled in the fading art of joke-telling and possessed an extensive repertoire of off-color jokes, causing his family to simultaneously groan and burst out laughing. His opening line in many phone calls was “I have a joke for you.” But he didn’t joke about his long suffering as a Red Sox fan, though he was ultimately vindicated for his perseverance during their recent successes. Despite this, he loved New York, and until his last day, Mike’s thirst for human connection engaged his wide-ranging intellect with his fellow New Yorkers. His “backyard”, Central Park, was a source of endless joy. He spent many hours there, sitting on a bench, talking to passing-by acquaintances who stopped by to tell their stories – the doctor was “in”.  Opera, chamber music, and birdsong were the soundscape of his life. The art of relationships, the study of the mind, and the beauty of the seasons were his lifescape.

It is rare for someone to be larger than life to both their family and to so many others. Mike was a father to his children, and a mentor, life coach and lifeline for many, many more. It was not unusual to learn that someone he met, or a relative of some friend, was living with him and Peggy while sorting out a problem or finding their way in the world. Mike experienced the world through such connections with people. Their interests and problems were always on his mind, and he made innumerable lives better through his love, advice, and sometimes pointed commentary. Mike’s children often heard from friends or acquaintances the phrase, “He was like a father to me.”

The celebration of Mike’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Mike’s name may be made to Natural Resources Council of Maine at nrcm.org.

August 28, 1923 – October 21, 2021 Harvey Ralph Swack (née Grundstein) was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the first of five children to Arthur Grundstein and Lillian (née Kritzer) Grundstein. Harvey was kind, generous, creative, ingenious, encouraging, loving and the most positive person you’ll ever know. He got up every day and said, “What a great day, and I’m going to make it one.” A truly unique individual, it is remarkable all that he saw, lived, endured, survived, created, contributed, loved and shared over his 98 years.

Harvey met his wife, Lois Swack (née Goldston) in the Hillel House at Ohio State University. He wed at age 24 and was married for over 65 years until Lois passed away in 2013. He received his B.S. and Master’s in Business Education from Ohio State University. He served in the US Navy in WWII, in the South Pacific, as an aircraft mechanic.

After losing his father at age 10, Harvey and his brother Myron, spent five years at Bellefaire, a Jewish orphanage in Shaker Heights, Ohio, where he spent his free time pursuing his love of airplanes and cars. When other kids were playing sports, Harvey was building models and reading everything he could find. During this time, his aunt took him to visit the Great Lakes Aircraft Company which later went bankrupt in the depression – an event that would influence him later in life.

After five years at Bellefaire, Harvey and his brother Myron were reunited with his mother and other siblings on a dairy farm in West Salem, Ohio. He lived and worked on the farm until he went to Ohio State in in1941.

After the Navy and college, Harvey started his career in Mansfield, Ohio, opening a hobby shop selling model planes and cars. He also sold the first Barbie and Ken dolls in Ohio. Harvey and Lois then moved to Cleveland where Harvey started his career in parks, first as the Executive Director of Roundup Lake in Mantua, Ohio, where he implemented programs to create awareness of camping, bring scouts and inner city youth to the park. In the mid ‘60s he became the Public Relations Director for the Cleveland Metropolitan Parks where he was responsible for passing the tax levies that paid for the parks. He implemented numerous programs to get people to the parks who wouldn’t otherwise have access, and worked to make important acquisitions, like the Cleveland Zoo. Because of this success, he was tapped by the George Gund Foundation and Ohio congressman, John Seiberling, to lead a citizen’s initiative to establish Ohio’s first National Park in 1973, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Even with all these achievements, Harvey would tell you the thing he loved most was teaching business in community colleges in Cleveland and later in Boston.

In 1962, Harvey acquired the rights from the FAA for the Great Lakes Sport Trainer, a two seat, open cockpit, aerobatic biplane, and built the company selling plans and parts to homebuilders. He also acquired the rights to the Baby Great Lakes, a small and powerful one seat version. In 1972, he sold Great Lakes to a group who put the Sport Trainer back into production. Through this process he became a pioneer in the experimental aircraft industry and an early participant in the EAA AirVenture annual air show in Oshkosh, WI, touching the lives of thousands of people around the world.

Nothing was more important to Harvey than family. He would frequently exclaim how much he loved his relatives and never missed an opportunity to see them. He instilled this love of family into his. Harvey came from a large family and is survived by his sister, Sondra Epstein, and his brother Bernard Swack; his children Judith Swack (Terrence Furman), Michael Swack (Jayne Adelman) and Terry Swack (Louis Weitzman); and grandchildren Laura Furman (Harry Byres), Eric Swack, Jeremy Swack and Rachel Swack.

Harvey will always be remembered for his humanity, humility, positivity and gratefulness which, without a doubt, contributed to his longevity. He passed away peacefully in his home the morning of October 21, 2021. Funeral services will be held at Sharon Memorial Park in Sharon, Massachusetts on October 25, at 12pm ET. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Cleveland Metroparks. clevelandmetroparks.com/parks/support

Passed away on October 20, 2021, in Needham, just a few weeks shy of her 102^nd birthday.  Belle was born and raised in New York and was the daughter of the late Harry and Anna Orenstein.  Beloved wife of the late Albert Orlov.  Devoted sister to Goldie Greener, loving mother to Barbara of Hopedale, Peter (Peggy Cohn) of Lexington, MA, and proud grandmother to Alexandra Orlov of Denver, CO and Juliana Allen-Orlov (Daniel) of Honeoye Falls, NY.

Belle was a bright, energetic, and strong woman.  She had a long professional career as a medical assistant for the Brigham Medical Group.  She had an inquiring mind, and she expressed compassion and kindness to everyone she met.  She was an avid news and fiction reader until her last days.   She was the consummate chef and enjoyed spending hours in the kitchen cooking delicious meals for family and friends.

A Graveside Service will be held at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA 02067 on Friday, October 22, 2021 at 11:45 AM.  Memorial contributions may be made to The Ledges in the name of Belle Orlov, 55 Mendon St.  Hopedale, MA  01747.

Harris Coles-Of Chestnut Hill, lovingly surrounded by his family, on October 20, 2021.Beloved husband of Elinor (Golden) Coles. Devoted father of Jane Coles Ryter and her husband David and the late Kenny Coles. Devoted son of the late Allie and Rae Leshefsky) Coles. Dear grandfather of Michael and Carrie Ryter. Loving brother of the late Morris Coles. Graveside services at Sharon Memorial Park,40 Dedham St., Sharon, on Friday October 22, 2021 at 9:45 am. Masks and vacination are required. In lieu of flowers remembrances in his memory may be made to Hebrew Senior Life, Marcus Institute Fehnel Research Program, 1200 Centre St., Boston, MA 02131.

Mark David Shooman, of Newton, MA passed away on October 18, 2021. Beloved husband of Elaine Shooman. Loving brother of Harvey Shooman and his dear wife Jay-Anne Shooman of West Long Branch, NJ. Devoted father of Scott Shooman and his wife Sarah Shooman of Los Angeles, CA, Jill Peeling of Miami, FL, and Eric Shooman and his wife Amy Shooman of Westwood, MA. Proud grandfather of Jagger Shooman, Cy Shooman, Sydney Peeling, Hunter Shooman, and Hayden Shooman.

An outdoor service will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, October 21, 2021 at Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward St., Newton Centre, MA and live streamed. The family requests that masks be worn at the service.

The family will be observing Shiva at Temple Emanuel on the evening of Thursday October 21, 2021 from 6 – 8pm.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in memory of Mark Shooman to support Dr. Jacqueline Garcia’s Research Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284

To view the livestream of Mark’s funeral service, please click here

Silk, Carole M. (Berman) age 86, of Chestnut Hill passed away peacefully on Monday, October 18, 2021. Carole was born in Easton, Pennsylvania on January 13, 1935 to the late Moe and Fanny (Holtz) Berman. Towards the end of her life, she spoke fondly of being reunited with her beloved late husband, Charles Silk, who she was married to for 61 years, and her oldest son, Stephen. She is survived by her children Ellen of Sharon, Marc of Medfield and Kenneth of Chestnut Hill as well as by her sister Brenda Berman Leffer. She was predeceased by her sister Elaine Berman Gross. She was loved immensely by her six grandchildren Atlee, Kaitlyn, Camilla, Sam, and Vera Silk, and Dr. Michael Broder. She also leaves behind daughters-in-law Melissa Goodwin Silk, Abigail Gardiner Silk, and Sandi Wolchansky Silk; brothers-in law Buddy Gross and Richard Leffer; as well as many cherished nieces and nephews.

Carole attended Wilson Borough High School and Penn State before receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania. She had the distinction of being the first woman student ever to receive an undergraduate degree from Wharton, graduating as the one and only female in Wharton’s Class of ’56.  After leaving Penn, she gained employment as a statistician on Wall Street and in Cambridge, MA and later worked for the I.R.S while acquiring her real estate broker license. Beyond all of these incredible achievements, Carole invested immeasurably in her four beautiful children and set a tone of love and acceptance for all those who knew her as a matriarch. Needless to say, Carole was selfless, caring and incredibly devoted to her family. While her family always came first, Carole held a deep connection to her faith and greatly treasured her friendships.

Carole’s funeral will be held at Congregation Mishkan Tefila, 384 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA at 11am on Sunday, October 24, and to view the funeral via zoom, please visit  www.mishkantefila.org and the link will be on the homepage. Followed by memorial observance at her son Kenneth’s home until 6pm. Shiva will continue on Monday, October 25 at her daughter Ellen’s home from 4:00pm-6:00pm and 7:00pm-9:00pm and at her son Marc’s home Tuesday from 5:00pm-8:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Carole’s name to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, 72 River Park Street, Needham, MA 02494 or Congregation Mishkan Tefila.

Services at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl. SW, Washington, D.C. 20024

Gladys (Stein) Forman, formerly of Hull, passed away peacefully October 15, 2021 at the age of 97. Beloved wife of the late Michael J. Forman with whom she shared 38 years of marriage.  Loving and devoted mother of Bruce Forman of Delray Beach, FL; Mark Forman of Hull, MA; and Eric Forman of Coconut Creek, FL. Loving mother-in-law of Carol Forman and Robyn Forman. Enormously proud grandmother of Matthew Forman and his fiancée, Alyssa Buell. Adoptive grandmother to Brad & Scott Hickox. Gladys is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and extended family. Graveside Services will be held on Tuesday, October 19, at 1:00pm at the Kopaigorod Cemetery, Baker Street, W. Roxbury.  At the family’s request, there will be no Shiva In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. www.michaeljfox.org

A link to view the funeral service can be found here.